Business chemistry
Business chemistry is a subject with the combined training objectives of business administration (BWL) and chemistry . This subject is currently offered as a bachelor's and / or master's degree at five German and one Swiss universities and one German university of applied sciences. It is the teaching response to the requirements of the chemical industry for scientifically qualified employees who also have in-depth knowledge of business administration. In practice, the integration of chemical specialist knowledge and management know-how is important, be it in research and development , marketing and sales , controlling or sustainability management .
courses
The Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf and the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster are among the largest industrial chemistry locations in Germany. The study of business chemistry is locally restricted. There is a local numerus clausus which can be found on the university websites; Applications can be made online there.
Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf
The course of study and courses offered are determined jointly by the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and the Faculty of Economics with the aim of integrating business and chemical content over the entire duration of the course. Both subjects are taught in parallel and almost equally from the first semester. For the thesis, candidates can choose between chemical and economic topics. The Bachelor of Science degree can be achieved after seven, the Master of Science after a further three semesters. Doctorate is possible with the degree Dr. rer. nat. in chemistry as well as Dr. rer. pole. possible in economics.
Technical University of Kaiserslautern
The concept is similar to that of the University of Düsseldorf. The industrial engineering course with a focus on chemistry is offered here. There is also a parallel chemical and commercial training over the entire duration of the study. The Bachelor of Science can be obtained after seven semesters, the Master of Science degree after another three semesters. A six-semester bachelor's degree in chemistry with a focus on economics is also offered at the TU Kaiserslautern. The focus in teaching the basics is predominantly on chemistry and 20 percent on economics. A four-semester master’s degree in business chemistry builds on the bachelor’s degree, which enables students to individually design their course profile with regard to their thesis in chemistry or economics.
Christian Albrechts University in Kiel
An equivalent bachelor's degree of seven semesters is offered. The master’s degree in business chemistry has also been offered since 2012.
Ulm University
The curricular content of the Bachelor and Master’s degree programs in Business Chemistry at Ulm University was most recently adapted as part of changes to the subject-specific study and examination regulations for the 2017/18 winter semester. The course therefore provides for parallel training in chemistry and economics from the first semester onwards, with the chemical component predominating in the bachelor’s course. In addition to basic compulsory modules in both subject areas, students in the 5th and 6th semester have three options, each with 25 credit points, in order to give their bachelor's degree an individual focus. The first option is a focus on "chemical industry". Specific, interdisciplinary courses at the interface between natural and business administration are planned here, which optimally illustrate the field of business chemistry and fundamentally focus on a selection of typical professional perspectives. In addition, there are elective modules in economics. This subject-specific focus is made possible by the independent professorship for business chemistry, which has been based at the Institute for Theoretical Chemistry at Ulm University since the summer semester of 2016. The second option consists of a mix of courses in chemistry and economics. The third option puts chemistry courses in the foreground and is suitable for those students who start a purely chemistry-oriented master’s degree, but still want to acquire basic knowledge in economics through the compulsory modules at bachelor’s level. Admission to the Master’s degree in Chemistry can take place with the second and third option; the first option, on the other hand, only allows the transition to the consecutive Master’s degree in Business Chemistry. Conversely, with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, a direct transition to a master's in business chemistry is not possible. In addition to modules in chemistry and economics, the master’s degree in business chemistry includes a compulsory part of advanced, specific courses in business chemistry. In addition to the classical subject areas of chemistry, courses from the field of chemical engineering are also permitted in the chemical part of the course. In addition, a research-oriented internship at the university as well as an external professional field internship in industry lasting three months is completed. The final theses of the bachelor's and master’s degree courses can optionally be in chemistry, economics or business chemistry; the master’s thesis can also be prepared externally in industry by agreement.
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
The University of Münster is the only university in Germany with its own institute for business chemistry, which organizationally belongs to the chemistry and pharmacy department there and is also linked to the business and economics faculty. Only a four-semester master’s degree in business chemistry is offered at the Münster site. In the first two semesters, elementary knowledge from the field of business administration is imparted in six compulsory economic modules. Special events exclusively for business chemists are part of these modules. In the third semester, the students attend compulsory elective modules from the master's degree in chemistry at the University of Münster. The fourth semester is followed by the master's thesis, which can be designed as a practical work in cooperation with companies in the chemical industry or as a theoretical work at the Institute for Business Chemistry.
University of Zurich
The course has been offered at the University of Zurich since 2004. It takes six to nine semesters. At the University of Zurich, chemistry and business administration have been taught in parallel since the first semester. Another specialty in Zurich are the business chemistry modules in the master’s course, which deal with explicit economic problems in the chemical industry. Furthermore, a student and alumni association was founded in January 2012 based on the models in Münster and Düsseldorf. The aim of the association is to better link studies to the economy in order to enable students and alumni a smooth transition from study to professional life.
University of Applied Sciences Fresenius in Idstein (University of Applied Sciences)
Both subjects are taught one after the other. After four semesters of studying chemistry, in the fifth semester the students acquire additional economic knowledge and skills in fields relevant to professional practice. A five-semester master’s degree in business chemistry has been offered since 2013.
Education
The study structure of business chemistry according to the integrative concept is to be illustrated as an example.
Bachelor of Science
conditions
Applicants for business chemistry at universities require a general higher education entrance qualification , i.e. the classic Abitur. At the university of applied sciences it is also possible to study business chemistry with a technical college entrance qualification, the technical diploma. There are no additional requirements, but foreign language skills, practical and international experience are an advantage. The most important personal requirement, however, is an interest in chemical and economic issues.
Content, structure and scope
The bachelor's program aims to integrate and combine chemical and economic content. The course should enable students to work scientifically in the laboratory and to analyze business management issues. Over the entire study period of seven semesters with a scope of 210 ECTS , the teaching of both subjects takes place in parallel and almost equally. The core areas, relevant minor subjects and some specializations in both disciplines are anchored in the timetable.
On the part of chemistry, the basics of inorganic , organic and physical chemistry are taught. Laboratory internships expand this with practical experience in the analysis and synthesis of compounds . This basic chemical education is completed by teaching mathematics and physics . In the further course of the course, in-depth and compulsory elective modules are planned in order to enable the graduates to do independent and scientific work and research. Due to the laboratory internships, chemistry seems to predominate in the course, although according to this concept the content is more in balance with economics.
Economics teaching includes plenary events, group sessions and seminars in the subjects of business administration, economics and their specializations. Here the students deal with the general basics, sales and procurement , production and logistics on the one hand, and accounting , finance and value management and statistics on the other. The subject of economics is covered by basic lectures. In the further course of their studies, students choose two focus modules in which they learn to write scientific papers. The otherwise generalist business administration course offers various options for individualization and specialization such as controlling , financing and investment , marketing , environmental management and many more. In the deepening and discussion of special issues, the students are given economic and chemical tasks.
The bachelor's degree is completed in the seventh semester with a thesis dealing with a narrowly defined chemical or economic topic.
Master of Science
entry requirements
Since the Master -Studiengang build content on the bachelor's degree program and this deepened the necessary precondition of the degree of Bachelor of Science in chemistry with a grade "good" or better, or an equivalent degree. At some universities, industrial internships are also required (see the individual aptitude assessment regulations).
Content, structure and scope
The concept of integration with equal weighting of business administration and chemistry is continued in this three-semester master’s course; it serves to deepen and expand the knowledge previously acquired. There are elective modules for the subject combination in detail, which should ideally be put together based on the bachelor's degree. The course is completed in the third semester with a master’s thesis dealing with either a chemical or an economics topic.
In order to meet the demands of a high scientific level, independent and intensive work is required. Attending language and additional courses is recommended, as well as stays abroad and industrial internships. In this way, a close practical and research relationship is established and the functionality and business processes in the chemical industry are mapped during the training.
diploma
The diploma courses in business chemistry were offered for the last time in the 2006/07 winter semester and are currently running out. With a standard period of study of ten semesters, the diploma is equivalent to the Master of Science and differs in its structure.
The basic course usually lasted four semesters and is concluded with two specialist examinations in business administration and three chemical examinations in inorganic , organic and physical chemistry . This basis was deepened in the six-semester main course and expanded through elective courses and specializations in both disciplines. The diploma examination consists of two business and chemical examinations and is concluded with the diploma thesis . This can include subject-specific and also interdisciplinary economic chemistry topics.
Areas of application
The business chemistry degree qualifies graduates for various interfaces between chemistry and business administration. In companies in the chemical industry and related sectors, such as the pharmaceutical or mineral oil industry or in management consulting, many issues affect both areas of science.
Due to the individual combination of specializations and electives, business chemists are on the one hand very versatile and broad. On the other hand, they have expertise in their respective elective areas. Possible areas of application for business chemists include research and development , procurement , logistics , production , controlling , marketing , sales , customer service , human resources and corporate communications in the chemical industry. Business chemists are an alternative for such interdisciplinary areas, as they combine chemical expertise and management skills. As a result, business chemists can make a significant contribution to the value-adding activities of the chemical industry, whose processes are becoming more and more complex and more closely interlinked.
Web links
- Chemistry in focus
- Association for Chemistry and Economics
- Job description of business chemistry at jumpforward
- Journal of Business Chemistry
- WiChem Forum Zurich
Individual evidence
- ↑ Ulrike Hartmann: Business Chemistry . Student counseling. Studies with a future. Retrieved June 2011.
- ↑ News from the chemical industry - Perspectives 2025 . Journal of the Association for Chemistry and Economy of the GDCh, accessed May 5, 2013.
- ↑ Page no longer available , search in web archives: Business Chemistry Bridge between chemistry and business . Study chemistry. GDCh. 2011. Pages 64–67. Retrieved June 2011.
- ↑ NC for business chemistry courses .
- ↑ Homepage business chemistry . Official business chemistry homepage of the University of Düsseldorf. Retrieved June 2011.
- ↑ Information on the industrial engineering course . Homepage of the Department of Economics at the TU Kaiserslautern. Retrieved June 2011.
- ^ TU Kaiserslautern, Department of Chemistry, accessed in October 2017
- ↑ Brochure Specialized Information Chemistry of the Department of Chemistry at the TU Kaiserslautern.
- ↑ A quick overview of subjects. Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel , accessed on January 6, 2018 .
- ↑ Professorship for Business Chemistry at the Institute for Theoretical Chemistry - Ulm University. Retrieved March 29, 2020 .
- ↑ Master's degree in business chemistry at the University of Ulm. [Ulm University], accessed on March 29, 2020 .
- ↑ University of Münster, Institute for Business Management in the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy
- ↑ University of Münster, institutes and facilities at the Department of Chemistry and Business Chemistry ( Memento of the original from April 13, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .
- ↑ University of Münster, establishment of the business administration faculty .
- ↑ University of Münster, Master’s degree in Business Chemistry ( Memento of the original from July 27, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .
- ↑ University of Münster, module overview for the business chemistry course (PDF; 153 kB).
- ↑ University of Münster, curriculum in the master’s degree in business chemistry .
- ↑ UZH News: Business Chemistry - Between Laboratory and Market , August 24, 2010.
- ↑ An overview of business chemistry studies. University of Zurich , accessed on January 6, 2018 .
- ↑ WiChem Forum Zurich .
- ↑ Bachelor and Master in Business Chemistry at the Fresenius Idstein University .
- ↑ Jens Leker What is characteristic of the business chemistry course? What are the requirements? Homepage Chemistry in focus . Retrieved June 2011.
- ↑ Jens Leker What is characteristic of the business chemistry course? Areas of responsibility in later professional life. Homepage Chemistry in focus . Retrieved June 2011.
